Childress Fall Chili Cook-Off

Fall was always an exciting time of the year and personally one of my favorites. The Lucy landscape really showed its true colors with all of the changes of trees and the smell of burning leaves filling the air. At the first signs of fall Will and I knew that it was time to start gathering and stacking tree branches for the annual Childress Fall Chili Cook off. This became a community tradition that brought us all together for great food, family, fun, and fellowship.

The day of the CFCC the Childress household was bustling in excitement. We were adding our finishing touches to the 10ft bonfire, throwing hay bales left and right for seating, putting out countless tables, and rigging lighting all a round our 2 acre lot. Inside the kitchen every burner was on and every oven rack was occupied. My granddaddy would bring this massive black cooking pot and start early on his famous cactus chili. Everyone had a part and everyone did their part with immense pride.

Close to dusk you could see headlights from all directions pouring into our drive and yard. As a kid it looked like a scene from Field of Dreams, although I'm sure it wasn't quite that big of a turnout. Family after family brought pots of chili, desserts galore, side dishes, and everything needed to pull off such a community event. Everyone somehow knew there place. As soon as families arrived the adults would go with the adults and the kids would go with the kids. There were no clinging to your parents, it was a safe and familiar environment.

Every year it seemed that my dad would try to make the bonfire bigger and bigger. One particular year it created such a blaze that you had to keep at least a 20ft radius from the flames to prevent 3rd degree burns. Once the fire died down it made for proper hot dog grilling and marshmallow burning conditions. All of kids had our clothes hangers in the fire each trying to create the perfect dog.

My favorite part of the CFCC, aside from the fellowship, was the hayride. We would all pile up on the 20ft trailer wedging ourselves in between hay bales while we inhaled the diesel fumes of the dully pulling us. The hayride would take us down Willowbrook to Sykes Rd and down the rural part of Willowbrook around the radio station and make its way back. What really made this ride one to remember was Mr. Ian. Mr Ian owned the Lucy Food market, but was also an accomplished bagpipe player. He would sit at the front of the trailer and play his pipes as we rode through the dark haunting cotton fields of Lucy. It was truly a memorable ride for young and old.

The chill of the November air, the smell of crackling wood, the sounds of Mr. Ian's bagpipes, the satisfaction of some great chili/food, and most importantly the friendships that surrounded this annual event has been edged into our minds of what true community was and still can be today.